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| Deleting names of displaced KPs from voter lists a 'big conspiracy' | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Sept 17: Displaced Kashmiri Pandits on Monday termed the deletion of their names from the electoral rolls of Jammu Municipal Corporation, (JMC) slated for polls next month a "big conspiracy" aimed at debarring the community from exercising their right to franchise.
The displaced KPs accused the Election authorities of the state of playing into the hands of those forces who are responsible for the mass exodus of the community.
"Depriving displaced Pandits from casting their votes in JMC elections to be held in next month looks like to be a part of a big conspiracy. It is strange that the names of the people from other areas of Jammu region and even Kashmiri Muslims putting up in Jammu have not been deleted from voter list of JMC but the names of displaced Pandits are being deprived of their basic rights," a delegation of the displaced community told Early Times.
"This is totally a biased decision of election authorities and the government," they added.
They said that its surprising that all the names of displaced Pandits who cast their votes in Municipal elections of 2005 were deleted from voter lists this time despite the protest by the community members who also made a representation to Union Government and Election Commission of India a number of times. "This shows that both State as well as Central Government are not interested in giving democratic rights to this minuscule minority of Kashmir who belongs to India's ancient civilization," they added.
They alleged that Government of India and State Government are responsible for their "pathetic" plight. "Our community was hounded out from the Valley due to wrong policies of the Government from time to time since 1947. `This is a pity that after being hounded from the Valley 29 years back the successive governments at Delhi and in J&K have failed to restore the rights of the hapless community and ensure their dignified return and rehabilitation in their ancestral homeland'', said Omkar Nath Raina.
He asked why not the same yardsticks were applied for the people from twin districts of Rajouri and Poonch or that of Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban who are putting up in various municipals wards at Jammu or those of majority community members from Valley settled at various places in winter capital and why the Pandits only were singled out.
"I want to ask the Government have they deleted the names of Rohingyas and Bangladeshis putting up in Jammu for the past over decade now. If Government has not deleted the names of these people why the members of nationalist and patriotic community are being treated in an unfair way by deleting their names from voter lists of JMC'', he asked?
Ram Krishan of Swaran Vihar ridiculed the Government decision of asking displaced Pandits to cast their vote in their respective municipal wards, local Bodies and Panchayats at their ancestral places in the Valley saying that this is totally illogical and uncalled for decision. "Why should we vote for the candidates who are 300kms away from us. How will it benefit us ?" he asked.
He said this shows that both Central and State governments are bereft of a concrete policy on displaced Pandits who are leading an exiled life for past 30 years now.
The displaced Pandits said that Government has taken their issue casually since 1989 the day they were forced to leave Kashmir by separatists and terrorists. "This is a pity that Government of India has failed to understand the gravity of situation and has not done anything to rehabilitate them in their homeland," they added. |
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